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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. A comprehensive multi-media security and surveillance system for
monitoring a commercial transport utilizing IP protocol and transmitting
secure data to both a ground monitoring station and to the commercial
transport in digitized, multi-media format comprising textual, visual and
audio information, the system comprising:
a. at least one visual sensor adapted for monitoring a selected visual
condition associated with the commercial transport for generating a unique
visual data signal in IP protocol representing a specific visual condition
to be monitored;
b. at least one audio sensor adapted for monitoring a selected audio
condition associated with the commercial transport for generating a unique
audio data signal in IP protocol representing a specific audio condition
to be monitored;
c. at least one textual input device for generating a textual data signal;
d. a wireless transmitter associated with each of said sensors and said
textual input device and adapted for transmitting the respective data
signals;
e. a ground based monitoring station; and
f. a wireless receiver associated with the ground based monitoring station
for receiving the data signals.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor is a ground based sensor
strategically placed at a ground location for monitoring the commercial
transport when it is within a prescribed range of the ground based sensor.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor is a commercial transport
based sensor adapted for monitoring a specific on-board based condition on
the commercial transport.
4. The system of claim 1, including a plurality of each type of sensors,
each generating a unique data signal, and each being associated with a
dedicated transmitter, whereby the unique data signals are transmitted to
the monitoring station.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein a plurality of sensors is assembled in a
cluster, and wherein there is further included:
a. a combiner for combining each of the independent cluster signals into a
combined signal;
b. a single, dedicated cluster transmitter adapted for transmitting the
combined signal to the monitoring station.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein said combiner is a multi-channel
multiplexer.
7. The system of claim 5, wherein said combiner is a single channel
multiplexer.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein each of said cluster signal are
sequentially entered on a time sequenced basis into the single channel
multiplexer.
9. The system of claim 5, wherein at least one of said sensors is hard
wired to the combiner.
10. The system of claim 1, further including at least one sensor which is
hard wired to the monitoring station whereby the unique data signal
generated thereby is communicated to the monitoring station without the
use of the wireless transmitter and receiver.
11. The system of claim 1, further including a mobile monitoring unit, and
wherein the monitoring station includes a transmitter for transmitting
selected signals from the monitoring station to the mobile monitoring
unit.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein said mobile monitoring unit includes a
transmitter for transmitting information from the mobile monitoring unit
to the monitoring station.
13. The system of claim 12, the mobile monitoring unit further including a
digital voice transmitter whereby verbal communications between the
monitoring station and the mobile monitoring unit are supported.
14. The system of claim 1, further including a support vehicle authorized
to be in the vicinity of the transport, and at least one wireless sensor
and wireless transmitter associated with the support vehicle for
generating a unique support vehicle signal and transmitting it to the
monitoring station.
15. The system of claim 3, wherein said commercial transport based sensor
is a video sensor and wherein at least on ground based sensor is a video
sensor, the ground based monitoring station further adapted for
transmitting and receiving signals to each of said sensors for defining a
ground-to-transport video intercom.
16. The system of claim 3, wherein said commercial transport based sensor
is adapted for monitoring a replenishable supply on-board the transport
and is adapted for generating a signal to the ground based station for
indicating the condition of the supply on-board the commercial transport.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein said replenishable supply sensor is
adapted for alerting the fuel supply on-board the transport and is further
adapted for generating a signal to initiate delivery of fuel to the
transport once the transport enters port.
18. The system of claim 16, wherein said replenishable supply sensor is
adapted for generating a signal for generating review of the on-board
condition of the replenishable supply once the transport enters port.
19. The system of claim 16, wherein said replenishable supply sensor is
adapted for generating a signal go to initiate re-supply of said
replenishable supply once the transport enters port.
20. The system of claim 3, wherein said on-board sensor generates a signal
to the ground based station indicating a maintenance function.
21. The system of claim 3, wherein said ground based station further
includes means for alerting personnel aboard the transport to perform and
on-board maintenance function.
22. The system of claim 1, further including a plurality of sensors
associated with the commercial transport, each adapted for monitoring a
unique selected condition for generating a unique data signal representing
the specific condition to be monitored.
23. The system of claim 22, wherein at least of said plurality of sensors
is ground based and at least one of said plurality of sensors is
commercial transport based.
24. The system of claim 23, wherein the ground based sensor is hard wired
to the ground based monitoring station.
25. The system of claim 22, further including:
a. a collector adapted for collecting the plurality of data signals from
the plurality of sensors and generating therefrom a combined signal
incorporating each of the plurality of signals into a combined output
signal; and
b. a processing system for receiving and processing the combined output
signal.
26. The system of claim 25, said collector and processing system further
including a self-contained power supply.
27. The system of claim 1, wherein each said sensor and transmitter
includes a self-contained power supply system.
28. The system of claim 22, the collector further includes a multiplexing
system adapted for accepting a plurality of parallel data signals
simultaneously and for generating therefrom a single, combination output
signal.
29. The system of claim 22, wherein said multiplexing system is adapted for
generating a combination output signal including a component comprising a
plurality of the data signals in a split screen configuration wherein all
or a selected portion of the plurality of data signals are simultaneously
available.
30. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication network is a
wireless local area network (wireless LAN).
31. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises an image sensor
device for generating an image signal.
32. The system of claim 31, further including an illumination source
associated with said image sensor for illuminating the critical location.
33. The system of claim 1, wherein said is a global positioning sensor
adapted for generating a signal indicating the geographic location of the
sensor at any point in time.
34. The system of claim 32, wherein said global positioning sensor includes
a separate sensor component in each end of the transport, whereby size and
heading of the transport may be calculated and monitored.
35. The system of claim 1, further including a recorder for capturing the
data signal in a retrievable format.
36. The system of claim 35, wherein said recorder comprises an analog
recorder.
37. The system of claim 35, wherein said recorder comprises a digital
recorder.
38. The system of claim 2, further including a wireless local area network
system utilized in connection with the ground based portion of the system.
39. The system of claim 3, further including a wireless local area network
utilized in connection with the on board components of the system.
40. The system of claim 1, further including a global position system
(G.P.S.) sensor associated with the commercial transport and adapted for
generating a position signal to be transmitted to the ground based
monitoring station, whereby the position of the commercial transport may
be monitored at any time.
41. The system of claim 40, wherein said G.P.S. sensor is located near the
nose or front end of the commercial transport and wherein a second G.P.S.
sensor is located near the tail or rear end of the commercial transport,
and wherein each sensor supplies a separate signal to the ground based
monitoring station, whereby both directional heading and relative size of
the transport may be determined.
42. The system of claim 1, further including a mobile monitoring station
for receiving the unique signal from the sensor.
43. The system of claim 1, wherein there is further included ground support
equipment and ground support vehicles, and wherein each of said ground
support equipment and ground vehicles includes location sensors for
generating and sending ground support location signals, whereby the
position of the commercial transport and relative to the ground support
equipment and ground support vehicles may be monitored.
44. The system of claim 43, wherein said location sensor is an on-board
G.P.S. system.
45. The system of claim 1, wherein said commercial transport includes a
unique identifier which is adapted to be sensed by the sensor, whereby the
sensor can generate an identification signal for alerting that the
identified commercial transport is within range of the sensor.
46. The system of claim 1, wherein said ground based sensor is carried
on-board the transport for deployment in the port once the transport
enters same.
47. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless transmission system is
adapted for downloading software from various system elements.
48. The system of claim 1, wherein said ground based monitoring station
further includes a transmitter for transmitting instructional information
to the sensor upon presence of a specific condition.
49. The system of claim 1, wherein there is further provided support
systems in port for supporting the commercial transport and wherein said
support systems further include at least one support system sensor adapted
for transmitting a signal to the ground based monitoring station, whereby
conditions of the commercial transport and the support system may be
simultaneously monitored.
50. The system of claim 49, wherein said sensor and said support system
sensor are each global positioning system sensors whereby the relative
proximity of the commercial transport and the support system may be
tracked and monitored.
51. The system of claim 50, wherein the ground based monitoring station
further includes a mapping capability for generating a map defining the
presence of the commercial transport relative to the support system.
52. The system of claim 50, wherein said support system sensor includes a
support system identifier for signaling to the ground based monitoring
station the identity of the support system.
53. The system of claim 3, further including means for accessing and
controlling system on-board the commercial transport from the ground based
monitoring station.
54. The system of claim 1, further including a personnel based unit
including at least one sensor and a personnel communications system
capable of transmitting and receiving information to and from the aground
based communications system for monitoring conditions present at the
sensor.
55. The system of claim 54, further including a personnel based system for
generating the location coordinates of the personnel and communicating
this to the ground based communication system.
56. The system of claim 55, further including a location signal generator
associated with the transport, whereby the proximity of the transport to
the personnel may be monitored.
57. The system of claim 56, wherein said personnel based system includes
means providing for communication directly between the transport and the
personnel.
58. The system of claim 57, wherein said personnel based system includes
means providing for communication directly between personnel.
59. A comprehensive multi-media security and surveillance system for
monitoring a commercial transport utilizing IP protocol and transmitting
secure data to both a ground monitoring station and to the commercial
transport in digitized, multi-media format comprising textual, visual and
audio information, the system comprising:
a. a sensor adapted for monitoring a selected condition associated with the
commercial transport for generating a unique data signal in IP protocol
representing a specific condition to be monitored;
b. a wireless transmitter associated with said sensor and adapted to
transmit the respective data signals;
c. a ground based monitoring station;
d. a wireless receiver associated with the ground based monitoring station
for receiving the data signals; and
e. a global positioning sensor, having a sensor component in each end of
the commercial transport for generating signals indicative of the
geographic location of the sensor at any point in time.
60. The system of claim 59 wherein the size and heading of the transport
may be calculated utilizing the global positioning sensor components.
61. The system of claim 59 wherein the sensor is a visual sensor adapted
for monitoring a selected visual condition associated with the commercial
transport and for generating a unique visual data signal in IP protocol
representing a specific visual condition to be monitored.
62. The system of claim 59 wherein the sensor is an audio sensor adapted
for monitoring a selected audio condition associated with the commercial
transport and for generating a unique audio data signal in IP protocol
representing a specific audio condition to be monitored.
63. A comprehensive multi-media security and surveillance system for
monitoring a commercial transport utilizing IP protocol and transmitting
secure data to both a ground monitoring station and to the commercial
transport in digitized, multi-media format comprising textual, visual and
audio information, the system comprising:
a. a sensor adapted for monitoring a selected condition associated with the
commercial transport for generating a unique data signal in IP protocol
representing a specific condition to be monitored;
b. a wireless transmitter associated with said sensor and adapted to
transmit the respective data signals;
c. a ground based monitoring station;
d. a personnel based system for generating location coordinates of
personnel and communicating said coordinates to the ground based
monitoring station; and
e. a wireless receiver associated with the ground based monitoring station
for receiving the data signals.
64. The system of claim 63 wherein the personnel based system comprises at
least one sensor and a personnel communications system capable of
transmitting and receiving information to and from the ground based
monitoring station. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The subject invention is generally related to safety and surveillance
equipment for aircraft, ships and other commercial vehicles and is
specifically directed to a comprehensive multi-media security surveillance
system for same while in port or terminal and/or unattended whether
taxiing or parked or docked. The system of the subject invention also
permits tracking while en route.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Security is of ever increasing importance. This is particularly true with
respect to commercial airlines as more and more people and freight are
moved in this manner and aircraft and other commercial transports
increasingly become the targets of terrorists activities. The airways are
becoming increasingly crowded with traffic. Global tracking systems are
now in place to monitor the flight of the aircraft from the moment it
lifts off until it safely lands at its destination. Radar and navigational
positioning systems are commonplace both on the aircraft and at the ground
tracking stations. All of these electronic systems have increased the
overall safety record of commercial traffic to new standards as the number
of miles flown continues to escalate.
In addition, the on board avionics including electronic monitoring and
diagnostic equipment, particularly on large commercial jets, continues to
evolve, giving both the on board crew and the ground assets more complete,
accurate and up to date information regarding the condition of the
aircraft while in flight. Flight recorders long have been incorporated in
order to provide a record of each flight and in order to provide critical
information to aid in the determination of the causes of an accident or
malfunction should one occur.
However, one area which has been neglected with the ever increasing
availability of electronic surveillance is the security of the aircraft or
other vehicles or vessels, including, but not limited to, over-the-road
vehicles, ships and other commercial vehicles (collectively referred to as
commercial transports), particularly when unattended. Typically, when an
aircraft is on the ground, or in port, and unattended the only security
provided is the security of the location. If the security of the area in
which the commercial transport is stored is breached, the commercial
transport is an easy target. In most cases, even the access doors are left
open and further, for obvious safety reasons, are designed not to be
locked from the outside. Many critical areas of the commercial transport
are left exposed such as in an aircraft, by way of example, the landing
gear, the engine housing and critical wing and tail components.
With terrorism and sabotage an increasing problem there is significant need
to develop an integrated system capable of providing good physical/visual
and/or audio surveillance as well as monitoring of the environmental,
security and motion conditions of the commercial transport and various
components while the commercial transport is on the ground. For example, a
good visual surveillance system would give instant evidence of a breach of
commercial transport security, could sound an alarm and could immediately
secure the area. Such a system would also permit the recording of visual
information to provide a history for later review, providing yet another
source of information for increasing the overall security of commercial
transportation.
While such a system would be of great benefit to the commercial transport
and airline industries in general and to the commercial airlines in
particular, there are no integrated systems currently available which
adequately meets these needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention is directed to a comprehensive multi-media safety,
tracking and/or surveillance system, which in the preferred form provides
both visual and/or audio information as well as critical data such as
location, direction, intrusion, fire and/or smoke detection and/or status
of environmental conditions and/or transport systems status. In my
aforementioned patent and copending applications, incorporated herein by
reference, detection and sensor systems are utilized to provide the flight
crew and/or a ground tracking station for commercial aircraft critical
information during flight and/or to record the information and data
generated during flight for later reconstruction of catastrophic events.
The subject invention is an expansion of this concept and adds not only
ground security and surveillance, but tracking while in port or on the
ground as well as while in route, as well as incorporating the onboard
systems of the aforementioned patent and applications. It is an important
feature of the invention that the transmitting network for provides a
comprehensive communications link among the transport, per se, stationary
and mobile stations on the ground, as well as personal security units,
with the craft or vehicle being monitored by both strategic sensors
onboard the commercial transport and also strategically placed sensors on
the ground.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a wireless LAN (local area
network), WAN (wide area network) and/or other wireless transmission
scheme is used as the transmission system of choice and permits the use of
IP protocol for providing a comprehensive, multi-media security and
surveillance system with communication and command capability between the
transport and the ground station, the transport and personnel, personnel
and ground and personnel to personnel, including both mobile and permanent
ground based stations. Monitoring of and communication with support
personnel and vehicles as well as between transports is also provided. A
digital wireless voice intercom is provided for security purposes and for
communication between the onboard crew and the ground based personnel. In
the preferred embodiment video intercom is also provided. Digital wireless
(such as, by way of example, LAN) based file communication capability
permits the transmission of information such as route or flight plans or
gate and dock information. As an example, a LAN or WAN has worldwide
tracking capability adapted to be used in connection with a global
satellite communication system such as IRIDIUM, wherein the entire path
and status of the commercial transport may be monitored while airborne
over satellite connections.
One important feature of the invention is the ability to remotely monitor a
commercial transport while on the ground, whether or not the commercial
transport is attended. This will permit detection of unexpected events,
breach of security, change in environmental conditions and other
activities both on and in the vicinity of the commercial transport. A
G.P.S. system may be included to provide accurate positioning information
of the commercial transport, establishing the parked position of the
commercial transport at any time, as well as tracking its movements.
In its preferred form, a plurality of sensor units, which may include at
least one video or image sensor/device and/or at least one audio sensor
and/or at least one motion sensor, are placed strategically about the
interior and exterior of the commercial transport and at strategic ground
based locations. In addition, strategically placed motion detectors, fire
sensors, smoke sensors, door or latch sensors and other monitoring
equipment are incorporated in the system. A comprehensive system
incorporating these various sensing devices provide a broad based,
multi-media safety, security and surveillance system for monitoring
commercial transports at any time, whether or not attended.
In addition to safety and/or surveillance issues, the comprehensive data
collection scheme of the subject invention provides a system permitting
enhanced monitoring and/or response to crew generated work orders or
re-supply orders, and may even avoid the requirement that the crew order
certain supplies. For example, by monitoring the fuel, fresh water, waste
water and/or hydraulic levels onboard and transmitting this to a ground
station, refueling, water delivery and/or hydraulic fluid check and supply
may be initiated by the station crew and prepared for delivery when the
commercial transport arrives in port. The performance parameters of the
commercial transport may also be monitored and may be utilized for
initiating maintenance procedures, for example, even before the commercial
transport is in port. Pre-flight or pre-mission checklists may be enhanced
or automated by monitoring the critical functions and criteria via the
system of the subject invention. The system of the subject invention
greatly enhances maintenance procedures and efficiency. Where desired, the
system is capable of permitting the commercial transport to carry its
detailed maintenance record onboard, permitting full access to such
information at remote locations. The maintenance record can be routinely
updated or polled from the home based maintenance station using the
system's unique uplink capability. The ability to both send and receive
information will support remote control of the commercial transport
onboard systems such as lighting, strobes, alarm setting/resetting,
environmental controls, locking systems, siren or other audible signals,
fuel flow, fire detection and the like.
Once in port, the system of the subject invention permits complete
monitoring of on ground movement, and allows the monitoring of other
commercial transport in the area to assure that the various transports do
not interfere with one another. This provides collision avoidance, and can
be utilized both on the ground and in the air or in route via water or
land. Current airborne collision avoidance is accomplished by use of a
radar transponder. Aircraft position is located by radar "echo" response
and altitude by a "reporting altimeter" reading being returned to the
radar system encoded in the transporter return. Use of a satellite based
LAN or WAN will provide an "intranet in the sky", providing much more
accurate G.P.S. position, altitude, heading, speed and other navigational
information to the FAA and other operators and computer tracking and
monitoring stations, thus enhancing collision avoidance information.
Situational awareness is also provided by the subject invention. All
transports in the terminal area are provided with a G.P.S. location sensor
such that the home or ground crew will be able to track and identify the
location of every transport in the terminal. This provides better flow of
the commercial transports in the terminal area, assuring that proper
distance is maintained and appropriate pathways are followed.
The system also permits full situational awareness capability where all
ground or water transports in the are provided with G.P.S. location
information such that the ground crew will know where all assets are at
any point in time. This can provide both collision avoidance as described
and also check to assure that the transports are in an authorized area. A
composite of all transport location information can be used to provide a
"live" display of all assets in the area. Logging of this information will
provide good archival information in the event a reconstruction of events,
such as a security breach or collision, is required.
The comprehensive multi-media system of the subject invention permits the
collection and dissemination of virtually all data associated with the
commercial transport at any time, both while in port or in service. In the
preferred embodiment a combination of sensors systems are used, with
sensors being installed within the transport, on its exterior and at
ground-based locations for monitoring the transport when is in port. In
such areas where ground based systems are not available, the
transport-installed systems still provide useful and enhanced information
over the prior art. Likewise, in those areas where unequipped transports
enter a system equipped port, the ground based system of the subject
invention can communicate via standard ground-to-air radio to provide
useful information such as perimeter surveillance and the like. For
example, even without the use of on-board systems, the identification
number (such as the tail number on an aircraft), owner, state or country
of origin and other identifying information can be matched with available
data to provide immediate and accurate identification of a specific
commercial transport. This permits efficient tracking and response
capability of the transport in port, on the ground, or anywhere in the
world using satellite communications.
In the preferred embodiment, fixed view and steerable video cameras may be
incorporated either on the commercial transport or independently of the
transport at ground based sites where commercial transport is located in
order to monitor movements around the perimeter of the monitored
commercial transport. It is also desirable to include focusing and/or
timing functions so that selective pan, tilt and/or zoom (x,y,z)
positioning can be utilized. The cameras may be activated and/or aimed
and/or focused based on the location data provided by a G.P.S. system
integral to the monitored commercial transport, may automatically pan an
area, or may be manually operated by crew or ground personnel. Automatic
tracking of each transport in the terminal by one or more tracking cameras
in conjunction with a recording device can provide an archival record of
each asset in case of a detrimental event, such as fire, terrorist event,
theft, collision and the like. Information can also be supplied to assets
that are not G.P.S. equipped.
Several video cameras may be placed such that the lens of each is aimed
through a window opening provided in the fuselage or body in order to
provide video imaging of the engines, tail section, and/or landing gear
and other functional components of an aircraft. Cameras may be placed
throughout the interior of the commercial transport on the flight deck, in
the cargo hold, in passenger cabin and/or other desired spaces including
on the ground outside the commercial transport. The audio
sensors/transducers and/or other sensors and detectors are also
strategically located throughout the commercial transport and positioned
at strategic locations both internal and external of the fuselage.
External sensors based on the ground area surrounding the commercial
transport may also be added.
In its simplest form, current sensors are already on the commercial
transport coupled with strategically based ground sensors and may be used
to provide surveillance and/or warning system. Thus, a basic system may be
implemented with a minimum of alteration to the commercial transport and a
minimum of expense.
Within the commercial transport, the system may be hardwired or may use
wireless transmission and receiving systems. The wireless system is
particularly useful for adapting the system as a retrofit on existing
equipment and also provides assurances against disruption of data
transmission during structural catastrophes such as fire or airframe
breakup. In the preferred embodiment, the wireless system is fully
self-contained with each sensor unit having an independent power supply
and where appropriate, a sensor light source. The ground sensors may
likewise be hardwired or use wireless transmission and receiving of video
and/or alarm telemetry signals. The ground security system may include
motion sensitive, weight sensitive, infrared sensitive, audio sensitive,
or other typed activation system so that the equipment is not activated
until some event is detected, i.e., the system is action triggered. The
ground communications link, monitoring and/or recording systems for
collecting and/or transmitting the data as disclosed in my cozening
applications may be adapted for processing the information gathered by the
on-ground security system and, in the preferred embodiment. The wireless
system may use radio frequency transmission and may incorporate the
wireless communication system already in place as an integral component of
the system. Where desired, a wireless local area network (LAN) or other
wireless system may also be utilized for intercommunication among the
system components. Preferably, the entire capture, retrieval, monitor and
archive system is installed utilizing the wireless transmitting/receiving
system in order to assure that transmission will not be lost in the event
of a power shutdown or a failure causing possible open or shorted circuit
conditions which could occur in a hard wired system.
A commercial transport equipped with the ground surveillance system of the
subject invention may not always be located at a port or terminal equipped
with a ground security system. In the preferred embodiment of the
invention, the on-board system is self-contained and can operate on a
stand-alone basis at sites where compatible comprehensive electronic
ground security is not available. In those sites with a compatible ground
surveillance system, the on-board system communicates with the site-based
system to provide information to airport ground personnel and security
personnel. The system of the present invention also lends well to a
deployable surveillance device carried by the transport, which can be
deployed at unequipped sites to permit off-craft monitoring while the
commercial transport is at the port or terminal. The system can be
positioned at a strategic location within the site whenever the commercial
transport is unattended to permit monitoring of the commercial transport
from a remote location. The deployable device is then retrieved and stowed
in the commercial transport when the commercial transport departs from the
site.
In the preferred embodiment, the system will transmit any detected
information to a monitor system located at a ground control security
station, typically located somewhere within the terminal, tower and/or
safety sites such as security stations and fire stations. Detection of
activity or fire can sound local and/or remote alarms and/or dial
emergency numbers. The data may also be recorded on the standard recorders
provided onboard the commercial transport and/or on ground based recorders
of conventional type, digital type or a computer based logging system. The
security station has instant live access to all of the image and/or audio
signals as they are captured by the sensors, and where used, the
commercial transport recorder will make an historic record of the images
for archive purposes. Where random access recording techniques are used,
such as, by way of example, digital random access memory storage devices,
the information by be readily searched for stored information.
If unauthorized personnel breaches the security area and the audio and/or
video equipment is activated, signals will be immediately transmitted to
the security station. This will give immediate access to information
identifying the activity and the personnel involved. Further, in the
preferred embodiment of the invention, an alarm system will be activated
for securing the immediate area and taking counter measures to tighten
security such as remote operation of lights and doors, and respond to a
breach of same.
In the one embodiment, information from the plurality of sensors on the
transport is synchronized through an on board capture/multiplexing system
whereby the plurality of data, including visual image data, may be
displayed, recorded, and/or transmitted in either a split screen or serial
fashion. A "time-stamp" or chronology signal may also be incorporated in
the data scheme. Any signal which is capable of being captured and stored
may be monitored in this manner. Utilizing the wireless system of the
invention in combination with the battery back-up power supply, it is
possible to continue collecting information without using ground power or
commercial transport power. This assures that the system will operate even
if power is disrupted for any reason such as, by way of example, tampering
by unauthorized personnel or by fire. In its simplest form, only triggered
(activated) sensors are active, i.e., an activity at the site causes a
triggering effect and activates the sensor, and only the signals generated
thereby are transmitted to the security station. In such a system,
multiplexing of continuous signals is not nearly as critical. The
"time-stamp" is particularly useful as an aid in reconstructing the events
in a "post-event" investigation.
In the one embodiment, the system includes a plurality of strategically
located video image sensors and/or audio sensors, each sensor adapted for
transmitting the signals to a multiplexer for distributing the signals to
monitors and/or archival recorders. The data multiplexer combines all of
the signals from the various detector circuits to provide a data stream
suitable for transmission over the wireless system.
The LAN transceiver is the interface into the LAN. The LAN transceiver can
accept software downloads from various system elements to enable the
multi-media sensor system to be maintained or upgraded to perform other
functions. Other sensors may also be incorporated in the system, such as
motion sensors, smoke and/or fire sensors and the like. The system is
configured for selectively transmitting all of the data on a "real-time"
or "near real-time" basis, i.e., the data is delivered with only delays
for processing time such as compression/decompression, multiplexing and
the like. The system is also adapted to provide the monitors access to
serial, synchronized full screen view of each of the cameras, in
sequential viewing, or alternatively to provide split screen or
multi-monitor viewing of a plurality of cameras. The system may be
hardwired or wireless transmission may be utilized to further minimize the
possibility of a malfunction at the onset of a catastrophic occurrence and
to make the system more tamper resistant.
The comprehensive surveillance/communication of the subject invention
supports communication of monitored data and/or commands or operational
data between the ground or base station and the transport, between the
transport and ground or terminal support vehicles and/or equipment,
between the transport and various monitoring stations or systems, between
transports, between the ground station and the support vehicles, between
the monitoring station and support vehicles and between the monitoring
stations or systems and the support vehicles. This permits the ground
station to monitor and/or determine the identity, location, and heading of
any vehicle in its range for tracking and collision avoidance, as well as
monitoring sensor information, alarm conditions, emergency conditions,
servicing requests, maintenance information, navigational information,
requests for information such as flight plans, weather information, route
maps, message traffic such as e-mail and the like. Similar information may
be transmitted and received between transports, between transports and
support vehicles and any of these and the ground station. The ground
station may also send operational commands to the various monitoring
systems both onboard the transport and ground mounted, such as camera
tilt, pan and zoom and sensor activation. Other command signals such as
"lock-on" a specific condition or transport, sensor download, activation
such as "lights-on" or alarm (e.g., siren) activation and the like.
In a typical application, when an alarm from a specific transport is sent
to the ground station it will be tagged with the G.P.S. coordinates of the
transport. The alarm will also be reported to a security system, typically
including a computerized center that distributes the information of the
wireless LAN and where used, the wired LAN. The mobile and/or personal
security units will also report their G.P.S. coordinates to the central
computer so that the system knows the location of all security personnel
at ant point in time. Once the alarm signal is received, the system can
search and identify the closest appropriate personnel and alert them of
the alarm condition. This is accomplished by calculating the length of the
vectors between the transport G.P.S. and the various personnel G.P.S.
signals. The shortest vectors are the nearest personnel and these can be
alerted to respond to the alarm condition.
The selected personnel are then signaled by the security system of the
present invention to respond. Audio, text and graphic communications may
be utilized to inform the selected personnel of the condition and
location. The system can also use its "mapping" function to assist the
personnel in determining the best route to take in response. Because of
the comprehensive nature of the system of the subject invention, both
audio and image conditions of the transport can be communicated directly
to the selected personnel, using video conferencing compression techniques
of the LAN. If the desired, the personnel can switch cameras to obtain
different views, or gain control of the steerable camera disclosed herein
and survey the scene as appropriate via remote control. The two-way
communication capability of the system would also permit the personnel to
communicate conditions and the need for additional personnel or equipment
both to the system computer and directly to other personnel.
The security computer system will register the G.P.S. location of the
selected personnel as well as the location of additional or "back-up"
personnel in order to coordinate their movements and actions. The system
can then provide essential audio, video and communications to the selected
back-up personnel in order to coordinate the entire operation. The
coordinates of fixed sensors may also be entered into the system so that
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